Nissan plans to replace some models, eyes bigger segments

The Renault-Nissan alliance is expected to sell 270,000 units in the current fiscal

The company also said that its Datsun brand will focus on a slew of products under the A and B segments, while Nissan will look at introducing SUVs, crossovers, sedans in C&D segments. (Reuters photo)

Japanese auto major Nissan Motor has said that it will phase out some of the existing models in India owing to lack of response and will replace it with a slew of new products - including SUVs, crossovers, sedans and pick-ups. The goal is to achieve its desired 5% market share by 2020 in India.

The company also said that its Datsun brand will focus on a slew of products under the A and B segments, while Nissan will look at introducing SUVs, crossovers, sedans in C&D segments. Datsun will be launching its third model soon in India (RediGo) under the CMF-A platform.

In an interview with the FE here on Friday, Christian Mardrus, senior vice-president and chairman of Africa, Middle East and India (AMI) region, Nissan Motor Company, said: “We had to start our innings in India with exports in a big way. While we continue to pursue exports as part of our global strategy, however, Nissan in India is gearing up shore up its domestic sales in the coming years.”

Mardrus, who was in Chennai to oversee the rolling out of its one millionth car of Renault-Nissan Alliance at Oragadam plant near here, said: “After years of focus on exports, Nissan is now gearing up for major domestic onslaught with a slew of products. We will phase out a few existing models by replacing them with a new products, both under Datsun and Nissan brands. As part of this exercise, two new products - one each under Datsun and Nissan - will be launched in 2016.”

The Renault-Nissan alliance is expected to sell 270,000 units in the current fiscal, ending March 2016, including exports of 120,000 units to over 100 countries. Alliance plant managing director Colin MacDonald, said: “We hope to sell 270,000 units in the current fiscal and target to sell 340,000 units in next fiscal. Apart from initial Rs 4,500 crore investments, the alliance partners have invested R1,600 crore more for a new powertrain as well tooking facilities within the plant.

To a question, Mardrus said: “Nissan is globally famous for its SUVs, crossovers, sedans and pick-ups (C and above segments) and we will bring in products from those line ups, suited for Indian market conditions. Similarly, under the Datsun brand, we will focus on introducing new products under A and B segments, which hold a sizeable chunk of the Indian marketshare and towards this a first product under CMF-A planform will be introduced under Datsun brand soon.”

CMF-A is a common platform created for both the alliance partners of Renault and Nissan in India and Renault took the first mover advantage with its Kwid hatch, which has already recorded over 85,000 bookings, he pointed out.